02.03.05 – Dan Rafael, formerly of USA Today, has joined ESPN.com to be the senior boxing writer. He will provide full coverage of boxing news and developments, and will report for the leading sports site from all the top fights. In addition, his coverage will be translated and reported on ESPNDeportes.com, the leading Spanish-language sports site in the U.S. Rafael will also provide exclusive boxing news reports in ESPN Motion, ESPN.com’s high-quality, no-buffering video tool..
“It is very exciting to add one of the nation’s top boxing writers to our team of journalists,” said Neal Scarbrough, vice president, editor-in-chief, ESPN.com. “Adding one of the most respected and dedicated voices in boxing allows us to expand our coverage of the sport for both our core audience and for our Spanish-language fans.”
Added Carlos Caban, executive editor, ESPNDeportes.com, “Boxing is a very important part of the sporting landscape for Hispanic culture in the U.S. and abroad. To add to the breadth, depth and quality of our coverage is a very valuable service to ESPN’s fast-growing audience of Spanish-speaking fans.”
Rafael, 34, comes to ESPN.com following five years as the boxing beat writer for USA Today, where he covered the sport daily during his entire tenure. His coverage has included nearly all major fights and fighters during the past five years, including Lennox Lewis, Bernard Hopkins, Oscar De LaHoya, Mike Tyson, Felix Trinidad and more. Rafael also created USA Today’s monthly and pound-for-pound boxing rankings. He will continue to produce monthly rankings for ESPN.com. Prior to his tenure at USA Today, Rafael worked for more than three years each at the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton, NY and The Saratogian in Saratoga Springs, NY.
“Sports is what ESPN is all about, it is what they do 24-seven – and they do it extremely well,” said Rafael. “I’m very excited to be a part of that, and about being able to bring additional breadth and depth to my coverage of the sport. With the Internet now an everyday part of life for sports fans, I am looking forward to being able to bring boxing to that audience as part of the Worldwide Leader.”